Fall Lawn Care Tips
When those leaves begin to turn pretty autumn colors and the temperature begins to drop, it’s important to give your lawn the care that it deserves. There are certain lawn care tips that are better saved for autumn. They can help give you a headstart on your lawn in time for spring and ensure your lawn stays healthy throughout the season.
Here are some great tips to keep your lawn healthy this year.
Remove Buildup of Leaves
While leaves can be beautiful to look at, they can also present a challenge to keep your lawn healthy. Leaves tend to block sunlight and moisture from getting to your grass and can create patches of dead grass. Make sure that when your leaves start to fall, you rake or blow them away from the grass as often as you can. Even if your trees are bare, continue to rake the corners where leaves will pile up. If leaves are not raked accordingly, the grass underneath will become soggy and start to decay.
Fall Fertilization
While spring is the common time to fertilize, fall is also a great time to do so. By fertilizing in the fall, your grass is more likely to develop strong roots to help your grass survive through the winter and stay strong throughout the next year. Fertilizing during the cool season is also a great way to help the grass recover from the summer heat.
Cut Your Grass the Correct Length
While it is tempting to lock away your mower for the winter, your grass will continue to grow until the first frost of the year and will still need regular cuts. Ideally, your grass should be kept at a length of 2.5 to 3 inches. When grass exceeds this height, it is more prone to develop fungi such as snow mold. On the contrary, cutting grass too short does not allow grass to develop strong roots to get through the cold winter months.
Get Rid of Weeds
Getting rid of weeds in the fall is the best way to make sure your grass will be strong! Even though the weather is getting cooler, grass can still be a breeding ground for weeds to continue to develop. Weeds can be treated until late September and October.
Continue to Water Your Grass
Your grass should be getting at least 1” of rainfall per week. Keep your irrigation systems running until Mid October or up to the first frost so that your lawn will outlast harsh conditions. Be sure to disconnect your irrigation system to ensure that your pipes do not freeze.
Loosen Soil
Regular aeration of your soil prevents it from becoming compact. Loosening solid also helps oxygen and nutrients to reach the soil and your grass’ roots. It is a good idea to punch holes into the soil before fertilization, as it allows fertilizer to reach the roots where it can do the most good.
If you need help completing any of these tasks in preparations for fall, give us a call today! Advanced Quality Lawn offers a variety of lawn care services to help keep your lawn lush and healthy all year round!
